Local Anglers Hook Awards

Clifford Pirch and Ty Goodman -- a pair of former PHS sports standouts -- are turning into a darn good fishing team.

The pair have hooked up to finish first and third in AllStar Bass Summer Nights tournaments and win a locals-only tournament at Roosevelt Lake.

The third-place AllStar finish occurred July 25 at Apache Lake where the two weighed in a limit of 12.13 pounds that earned them $300 in prize money.

The tournament was the third in a series of six qualifying tournaments that will eventually lead to the AllStar Bass Summer Nights Championship.

June 21 at Roosevelt, the two captured first place in a 15-boat locals-only tournament.

At an AllStar Summer Nights team tournament June 26 at Roosevelt, Pirch and Goodman fished to first place and $1,950. The victory was in doubt until the final five minutes when Pirch hooked a 4.88-pounder that earned the team "Big Fish" honors.

Pirch caught the large mouth on a topwater lure. The two weighed in a six-fish limit of 11.85 pounds.

Goodman, a licensed hunting guide, said teaming up with a professional angler with Pirch's skills has been exciting.

"He's very good. I've learned a lot," Goodman said.

The strategy of the new angling team at Roosevelt has been to fish Texas-rigged worms and topwater lures on points in the Tonto Creek arm and main lake. They've also fished uplake from Burnt Corral.

In night tournaments, competitors are allowed to fish from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

According to Pirch, the best fishing this summer is usually in the late evening and early morning hours.

The team is sponsored by Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, The Tackle Box, McCoy Fishing Line Antich Development and Intermountain West.

Pirch and Goodman say they usually wait until the last minute to sign-up for a tournament but they have tentative plans to enter the next AllStar Bass Summer Nights tournament Saturday on Apache lake.

Pirch plans on returning to the professional ranks next September at the U.S. Open.